The Hinckley Great Fire is a major fire that occurred on September 1, 1894 and raged on an area of at least 810 square kilometers (310 square miles), including the city of Hinckley , Minnesota . Many people died in the fire, while the minimum number of dead is estimated at 418 people. Some scientists believe that the real death toll is about 800 people. In this case, it was the largest fire in the history of Minnesota.
Fire Course
It all started with the fact that after two months of drought and at high air temperatures in the pine forests of Pine County , several small fires formed. The spread of fires is apparently due to the work of wood harvesters, in which branches are cut down from the trees, which later turn out to be on the ground with other flammable debris. Gradually scattered fires joined together in a firestorm . The temperature in the fire area rose to 1000 ° C and above.
Some residents were able to escape by climbing into the wells and into the local Grindstone river . Others boarded two crowded trains in the disaster area, which were then able to leave the city in danger of destruction.
Fire Memory
Miscellaneous
The Boston Corbett , who shot John W. Booth (the killer of Abraham Lincoln), was allegedly killed in the fire. The forest hut near Hinckley is considered his last place of residence, and therefore Corbett is listed as one of the victims of the fire.